I have narrowed down three options for the near future. Which one should I go with?

Hi everyone,

I'm 17 years old from Scotland and left school in September last year, a year earlier than most, as I had had enough of it and was desperate to get out into the real world. I hated highschool from the very start and have never wanted to go to Uni, as I think the only two things it's good for is the socialising aspect and the credentialism you receive - Unless you're going for a course with a subject that you are really passionate about. My aim was to get an apprenticeship of some sort but have been unsuccessful so far. I think this is mainly down to the fact that I am not really passionate about the roles I have applied for. (And because I absolutely suck at interviews)

Since the beginning of March, I've been working a part time job in retail. I'm thankful that I at least have that because otherwise I would be even more bored, lonely and lacking direction than I am now, which I feel a lot in my days off to be honest. I also don't have a social life. I spend my free time lying in bed, doing nothing but questioning my life choices and wondering how I can make my situation better. I talk to some friends online while we're playing a game but that's my only real connection to people. A few of them are also in my position as they have now left school as well.

Basically, I have 3 options:

1. Keep on working in this part time retail job inevitably hoping to score an apprenticeship at some point down the line.
2. Quit and go travelling for a few months on little money then come back and get a new, better paying job.
3. Apply for a new job NOW while still working in my crappy part time job, then save up a lot in this new job and go travelling for longer afterward.

Which option would you pick?

Seems like you need a life plan, but you fail to see the bigger picture and you could end up getting left behind.
Are you bothered about a job other than retail? If so you will either need opportunity, training or qualifications.
To get those you are going to have to put some effort into improving job applications and interviews whilst possibly improve what you have to offer employers.


See if you can get any of these books at the careers library or they will have similar for you to read. Try and get ones aimed at your age group. If you cant find then just get second hand from Amazon.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/contact-us/home

https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Rocks-World-Jenny-Mullins/dp/1492153281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542391372&sr=8-1&keywords=what+rocks+your+world

https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-You-Are-Personality-Completely/dp/031623673X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1542391481&sr=1-1&keywords=do+what+you+are

https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Color-Parachute-Teens-Third/dp/1607745771/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1542391520&sr=1-1&keywords=what+color+parachute+teens



They can help guide you through a process and help figure out what might suit you. You should try and sort this out rather than just going travelling which wont solve much but would be ok if you have an overall plan.

Is there a problem with going travelling while I'm still young? I was planning on doing an apprenticeship a few years down the line once I've done a bit of travel. What's the rush may I ask?

There is no problem, but realistically how much will you be able to save and how far will you travel?
How will an employer see it?
Looks more like you ran away from free education. As you say to find the real world but you could find it comes back to bite you in the future. Your life, but if you want an apprenticeship then you will be competing for level 2.

Yes, I have access to free higher education but what would be the point in spending 4 years of my life there if there's no course I'm interested in? University just doesn't appeal to me. I shouldn't have to regret not doing it just because it's free in my country for god's sake.

There is no problem, but realistically how much will you be able to save and how far will you travel?
How will an employer see it?
Looks more like you ran away from free education. As you say to find the real world but you could find it comes back to bite you in the future. Your life, but if you want an apprenticeship then you will be competing for level 2.

How will an employer see it? --> the thread starter could do a lot of things whilst travelling e.g. volunteering which may seem interesting to an employer. And depending on what job the thread starter will go into, I'm sure they will prep for that and add it to their CV e.g. before I applied to a programming apprenticeship, I did like 6 months of programming and then did a bootcamp and spoke about this in my application and interview even tho prior to I just worked for my school (this was still relevant as it shows I actually did something at least during my gap year).
Further education is also NOT for everyone - don't matter if it's free or not.

I have nothing against travelling.
How can you be sure the OP will prep for things, do you know them? They show no signs of having given it some thought, but give me the impression they just want to get out into the real world as they call it. There are threads every month with people regretting not taking advantage of education and ending up in dead end jobs. I have simply suggested the OP gets a plan of what they intend to do rather than the sole objective being to get away to travel and then fumble towards an apprenticeship later.

Yeah same here - travelling is sooooo goood.
I'm not sure and no I don't know them :P - I don't think any of us know each other on here personally.
I'm just giving my perspective just like you are - based on your thoughts and life choices.
Yeah I get that people are regretting not taking advantage of education but this dude clearly don't want to go uni BUT they have said they're considering apprenticeships so it's sorted then Also there's no time limit - you can go to uni at any time of your life man, there's no rush. Like yeah it's good for the OP to plan their life for the next few years but plans change, people change, things change -- nothing's ever concrete.

I'm just a 'go with the flow' type of person and because of that, I'm in a great job, enjoying the learning and training and didn't have to do 3 or 4 years at uni and I actually did some travelling during my gap year for a few months - best idea ever - before I applied for this apprenticeship that I've just finished.

At the end of the day, the OP is gonna make their own decision in the end, with or without the advice everyone gives on here.

I hope you do what makes you happy in the end @cyoung17

ok dude - you got me all wrong... I'm obviously going to give advice based on what I've gone through - which isn't a bad thing. It's perfectly normal

I just wanted to make a point about either doing uni or apprenticeships ... that's it lol. I never outright said you were saying anything against apprenticeships.

Like I said before, it's up to the OP to make a decision. It didn't have to end like this but that's cool, I know what I meant and I am just trying to give whatever advice that I think will help, it may or may not help but the important thing is that I tried giving advice that I think is right. So that's it.

Enjoy the rest of your day dude

No worries. Not everyone is as sensible as you and you commendably made a lot of effort to make yourself employable to get a worthwhile apprenticeship, which can help you enjoy a successful career without uni.

If you run away from education without a plan , except to run off and see the world, then it could work out or you might find when you get back you havent moved forward and the world has moved on. That is why the OP needs to put some effort into sorting out a plan now so when they do go travelling for 1 or 2 years then they know what they might be doing when they get back. It doesnt have to be uni by any means and in any event it wouldnt be an option, but to get the better apprenticeships rather than the dead end ones then it will help the OP to be able to make themselves a competitive candidate.

As I said its there life choices, but there are numerous threads of people who leave school in this way then end up getting stuck and regret being so impetuous. I see them on a weekly basis. Hence where we started and I would read one or two of the books I suggested.

No worries. Not everyone is as sensible as you and you commendably made a lot of effort to make yourself employable to get a worthwhile apprenticeship, which can help you enjoy a successful career without uni.

If you run away from education without a plan , except to run off and see the world, then it could work out or you might find when you get back you havent moved forward and the world has moved on. That is why the OP needs to put some effort into sorting out a plan now so when they do go travelling for 1 or 2 years then they know what they might be doing when they get back. It doesnt have to be uni by any means and in any event it wouldnt be an option, but to get the better apprenticeships rather than the dead end ones then it will help the OP to be able to make themselves a competitive candidate.

As I said its there life choices, but there are numerous threads of people who leave school in this way then end up getting stuck and regret being so impetuous. I see them on a weekly basis. Hence where we started and I would read one or two of the books I suggested.

I meant three months in South East Asia not a whole year. Surely three months won't set me back in terms of employability?

Nope that will be fine. You should still be figuring out what to do when you get back. If you sort that out before you leave, then you can travel with a clear conscience.